Heroes and villains in american culture, history, and politics (Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Sousse, Tunisia)

International conference on
Heroes and villains in american culture, history, and politics

November 7-8, 2024

Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Sousse, Tunisia

Tropes of heroes and villains have always existed in American literary and cinematographic productions. Yet heroes and villains were also created in historical events and throughout political episodes and survived in American culture and collective memory. According to Kelly Bergstrand and James Jasper, “heroes form a rallying point, increase agreement among members and boost commitment to a cause” while “villains focus blame, provide a clear target for action, intensify negative emotions and solidify group identities”. Based on this contemporary understanding of the character type of hero and villain, this conference aims to shed light on processes of hero-making and/or vilification which can be subject to several cultural precepts, prejudices, and stereotypes. Whether in history, politics, the media, or in the collective consciousness/imaginary, the U.S. offers countless examples of heroes and villains, in addition to cases of heroes who turned into villains and vice versa that are worth studying at so many levels: at the level of creation, actions, journeys, social perception, media representation, and aesthetic representation. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of heroes and villains in the American context, their interactions with society, and ways in which they can affect culture and politics is of utmost importance today for a comprehensive and psychologically oriented grasp of American socio-political dynamics.

The present Call for Papers encourages submissions related, but not exclusive, to the following themes: 

Heroes and Villains of American Democracy:
This particular theme invites scholars to explore the dualities and contradictions within American democracy. Is democracy an ideal that America has lived up to, or is it more a myth than a reality? How do different narratives cast democracy as either a heroically achieved goal or a system fraught with failure and hypocrisy? Potential research questions could focus on:

• Historical and contemporary perspectives on American democracy with case studies of democratic successes and failures.
• The gap between democratic ideals and the reality of political practice.
• The role of public perception in shaping the narrative of democracy. 

Elections in the U.S.: Candidates and voters between heroes and villains?
This theme delves into the dichotomous nature of American electoral politics. How are candidates framed as heroes or villains? How do media, public opinion, and political rhetoric contribute to these narratives? What is the role of the radical religious right and radical cultural left in shaping such dichotomies? Areas for exploration include:

• A comparative analysis of how different candidates are portrayed.
• The role of identity politics in shaping electoral outcomes.
• The impact of media coverage on voter perception and behavior.
• The phenomenon of the anti-hero in political leadership.
• The influence of swing states and minority communities on elections with a focus on Arab-Americans in light of recent events in the MENA region.

American Historical Actors: Saints or Sinners?

This research area encourages the deconstruction of historical narratives that portray figures and events as either heroic or villainous. How have historical events been (re)interpreted over time? Who decides which figures are saints and which are sinners? Possible topics include:

• Traditionalist, revisionist, and post-revisionist narratives of American icons.
• The cultural and political implications of glorifying or vilifying historical figures and their impact on national identity and collective memory.
• Comparative studies of different historiographical interpretations of a particular historical event.

Foreign Policy Makers: Realists or Criminals? Hegemons as Anti-Heroes?
Scholars are encouraged to submit abstracts that critically and academically investigate how American foreign policy has oscillated between heroism and villainy. Are the U.S. global actions driven by noble values or self-interested motives? Are American leaders seen as global heroes or hegemonic anti-heroes? Topics might include:

• (Un)ethical dimensions of American interventions abroad with case studies of specific heroic/villainous foreign policy decisions and their long-term impacts.
• Portrayal of U.S. foreign policy in media and popular culture.
• The impact of internal lobbies on setting U.S. foreign policy approaches.

Identity in the U.S.: Diversity, Conformity, and the Politics of Immigration
This area of research focuses on the complexities of American identity, particularly in the context of immigration. How are immigrants depicted as
heroes or villains in the American narrative? How does the discourse around diversity and conformity shape national identity? Possible angles could include:

• Makers of anti/pro-immigrant policies and socio-cultural implications.
• Representations of immigrants in American culture, film, and the media’s discourse.
• Multiculturalism and assimilation: Race and the good vs evil dichotomy
• (Mis)Representation of gender and patriarchal roles in American society.

The Media in the U.S.: Creators of Myths or Exposers of Truth? Propaganda Machines or Guardians of Democracy?
This theme examines the powerful role of the media in constructing and deconstructing manichean narratives of heroes and villains in American culture.
How do the media shape public perceptions of individuals, events, and policies? Are media outlets acting as propagandists for particular agendas, or are they the guardians of truth and transparency? Potential areas for investigation include:

• The creation of the superhero trope in American films.
• The impact of agenda-setting and propaganda on public opinion.
• Which theories help us understand character types and affect control mechanisms generated by the media?

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By addressing these themes, the conference aims to foster a nuanced discussion that goes beyond simple dichotomies, exploring the rich and often contradictory nature of American cultural narratives. Therefore, contributors are encouraged to send abstracts of 300 words to heroesandvillains2024@gmail.com before August 15, 2024.

Notifications of acceptance will be sent on September 15, 2024.

Scholars and teachers as well as researchers at the MA and PhD level in the field of American Cultural Studies are especially encouraged to participate.

Selected articles will be published by Ecole et Littératures Research Lab.

N.B: The selected formatting style is Chicago Style.

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Scientific Committee:
Prof. Sadok Damak •University of Sfax
Prof. Lanouar Ben Hafsa •University of Tunis
Prof. Taoufik Djebali •University of Caen Normandie
Prof. Mokhtar Ben Barka •University of Valenciennes
Prof. Wassim Daghrir •University of Sousse
Dr. Yosra Amraoui •University of Carthage
Dr. Hafedh Gharbi •University of Sousse
Dr. Imed Bouslama •University of Tunis El Manar

Organizing Committee:
Prof. Wassim Daghrir
Prof. Nizar Ben Saad
Prof. Salwa Ben Hadj Salah
Dr. Yosra Amraoui
Dr. Hafedh Gharbi
Dr. Amira Achouri
Dr. Oussema Othmeni
Dr. Nadra Abada
Hajer Ben Ameur
Abir Ben Ameur
Rahma Dridi
Wassel Borghol
Omaima Ghezel
Molka Tamboura
Asma Rebah
Taha Amri
Fedi Kantaoui
Sarah Hafnaoui